Barren County's Confederate Medalists
Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
Confederate Congressional Medal of Honour. The President (CSA), in 1862, was authorized to confer a Medal of Honour upon one enlisted man of each company for "every signal victory." At first dress-parade, thereafter, the men engaged in the battle chose, by vote, the soldier most worthy to receive this honour. More Confederates from Barren than any other Kentucky county received this medal. See over. (Reverse) Barren County CSA Medalists STONE'S RIVER Dec. 31, 1862-Jan. 2, 1863 Enoch S. Jones, Corp., Co. D, 6th Ky. Inf. James Beverly Lewis, lst Sgt., Co. C, 6th Ky. Inf. Thomas W. Payne, Pvt., Co. E, 6th Ky. Inf. George Walter Rogers, Corp., Co. A, 4th Ky. Inf. CHICKAMAUGA Sept. 19-20, 1863 Marcellus Smith Mathews, Pvt., Co. D, 6th Ky. Inf. Bayard Taylor Smith, 2nd Lt., Co. A, 4th Ky. Inf. Ephraim R. Smith, Corp., Co. A, 4th Ky. Inf.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
In 1862 the Confederate government authorized a Medal of Honour, awarded not by generals but by vote of the soldiers themselves after every signal victory—each company choosing its most worthy man. More Confederate soldiers from Barren County received this honor than from any other Kentucky county. The medalists listed here earned it in the bloody fighting at Stone's River and Chickamauga in 1862 and 1863.
Why it matters
It records a little-known Confederate honor decided by the vote of common soldiers, and Kentucky's deep divisions as a border state that sent men to both armies.
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Related people
- · Enoch S. Jones
- · Marcellus Smith Mathews
- · Bayard Taylor Smith
Related events
- · Battle of Stones River
- · Battle of Chickamauga
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Christmas Eve Skirmish at Glasgow
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Barren County
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Formed in 1798 from Green and Warren counties, Barren County took its name from the open 'barrens,' or prairies, that drew early explorers and settlers. During the Civil War the area saw hard use: the first two of Morgan's Raids passed through in 1862, the same year General Braxton Bragg's Confederate army entered Kentucky here.
Hart County
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Formed in 1819 from Hardin and Barren counties, Hart County was home to the Buckner family. Simon Bolivar Buckner, a West Point graduate and Mexican War captain, became a Confederate general and later governor of Kentucky; his son, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., commanded the U.S. Tenth Army and was killed on Okinawa in 1945. Both rest in the Frankfort Cemetery.
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